Sustainable Agriculture Advances in Technological Interventions

This new volume looks at the evolution and challenges of sustainable agriculture, a field that is growing in use and popularity, discussing some of the important ideas, practices, and policies that are essential to an effective sustainable agriculture strategy. The book features 25 chapters written by experts in crop improvement, natural resource management, crop protection, social sciences, and product development. The volume provides a good understanding of the use of sustainable agriculture and the sustainable management of agri-horticultural crops, focusing on eco-friendly approaches, such as the utilization of waste materials. Topics include ecofriendly plant protection measures, climate change and natural resource management, tools to mitigate the effect of extreme weather events, agrochemical research and regulation, soil carbon sequestration, water and nutrient management in agricultural systems, and more.

Key features:

• Discusses sustainable agriculture within the framework of recent challenges in agriculture



• Looks at the development and diversification of crops and cultural practices to enhance biological and economic stability



• Discusses innovative nanotechnologies in research and production technologies



• Highlights the development of new varieties in agri-horticultural crops



• Discusses use of recent technologies for soil?plant?microbe?environment interactions.

Part 1: Crop Improvement 1. Genetic Improvement of Major Cereals in Prospect to Bihar State 2. Status, Opportunities, and Challanges of Spice Research and Development 3. Perspective of Plantation Crops with Special Reference to Coconut and Palmyra 4. Overview of the Floriculture Sector: Performance, Problems, and Prospects Part 2: Natural Resource Management 5. Climate Change and Natural Resource Management 6. Soil Carbon Sequestration: Particular Reference to Bihar 7. Agromet Advisory Services: Tool to Mitigate the Effect of Extreme Weather Events 8. Soil Pollution: Studies with Specific Reference to Bihar 9. Nanotechnology in Agricultural Science 10. Endomycorrhizal Fungi: Phosphorous Nutrition in Crops 11. Water Management in Horticultural Crops 12. Orchard Floor Management 13. High-Density Planting in Fruit Crops for Enhancing Fruit Productivity 14. Enriching Vermicompost Using P-Solubilizing and N-Fixing Biofertilizers and Eco-Friendly Low-Cost Minerals 15. Protected Horticulture in India: An Overview 16. Use of Fly Ash in Agriculture 17. Natural Resource Management and Land Use Planning Part 3: Crop Protection 18. Plant Disease Management through Application of Nanoscience 19. Status of Insect Pests of Cereals in India and Their Management 20. Major Insect Pests of Vegetable Crops in Bihar and their Management 21. Emerging Viral Diseases of Vegetable Crops: An Outline and Sustainable Management 22. Advancement of Agrochemical Research & Regulation Part 4: Product Development and Extension Education 23. An Appraisal on Quality Honey Production 24. Institutional Outreach through Innovative Approaches 25. Empowering Rural Youth through Agripreneurship

Ajoy Kumar Singh, PhD, is a Vice-Chancellor of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, India. He also served as Principal Scientist and Director at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutions. Dr. Singh worked extensively on diara land development and cropping systems, farming systems, and on-farm research under varied agro-climatic zones. As Zonal Co-ordinator (Zone II), Zonal Project Director, and Director, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, Dr. Singh monitored, evaluated, and guided 83 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centers) spread across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Eastern India. He is a recipient of several national awards, including life-time achievement awards from five different organizations.

Vishwa Bandhu Patel, PhD, is Principal Scientist at the Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. He was a University Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Horticulture, as well as Associate Director of Research at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour (Bihar). He is associated with the development of five varieties and several production technologies in fruit crops. Dr. Patel has received a number of national awards for his work in the field of horticulture research and development.